Automatic means for lubricating the bearings of alpha machine



y 1931. H. w. ATWQOD 1,803,456

AUTOMATIC MEANS FOR LUBRICATING THE BEARINGS OF A MACHINE Filed March 8,1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 5, 1931. H. w. ATWOOD AUTOMATIC MEANS FORLUBRICATING THE BEARINGS OF A MACI'IINE Filed March 8, 1927 2Sheets-Sheet 2 17108072? f/drff/K/Waod Patented May 5, 1931 uurraoSTATES PATENT OFFICE HART W. ATWOOD, OF PORTLAND, OREGON Applicationfiled larch 8,

My invention is especially adapted to be used on motor vehicles andthelike.

The lubrication of the various bearings of a motor vehicle is at presentattained by oilor grease cups, or such means as the-so-called Alemitesystem, or by a central, manually or mechanically operated 'lubricatorwhich forces the. lubricant to the bearings through conduits.

When the bearings are oiled individually and manually, at the discretionof the operator, it frequently happens that some of the less importantbearings are neglected or overlooked, and lubricating'by a s stem, suchas the alemiting must be done w ile the vehicle is standing still.

Where a central lubricator is depended upon, there is a tendency for theconduits to clog or choke, and cut off the supply of oil to one or moreof the bearings, and aseach bearing is oiled simultaneously, the resultis that those-bearings of which the conduits are clogged will becompelled to operate without proper lubrication.

Furthermore, some bearings require more lubrication than others, andshould be supplied with more lubricant than the other bearings which donot require so much lubricant. a

Hence, lubricating from a central'source from' which distribution takesplace to all bearings is not dependable.

With these considerations in mind, I have found that there must be anautomatic lucate by pressure, each bearing of a motor vehicle, throughthe medium of individual independent automatic lubricators located ateach bearing, and such lubricators will in turn be automatically filledwith lubricant 1927. Serial No- 178,724.

at intervals from a common source of supply, so as to insure theselubricators of being capable of functioning properly without attentionon the part 0 the operator of the vehicle.

Heretofore it has been tried to lubricate the individual bearings of amachine by means operatably connected and timed with the latter, forcharging the bearings, at inter- A further object of my invention is topro vide an automatic lubrication means for machinery which may becontrolled from the instrument board of the motor vehicle, or"

other convenient place.

A further object of my invention is to provide a lubrication means bywhich the lubricationaof each hearing may be individually adjusted orthe lubrication of a articular beating out out entirely, without aecting the functioning of the lubrication of the other bearings.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a lubricationmethod and means which is simple in. construction and operation,practical, economical of manufacture, and efiicient in operation.

I attain my object by roviding the individual bearings of the mac inewith indi-' vidual lubricant storing and feeding chambers, and providemeansa force pumpoperated by the machine, by which said individualchambers are kept filled from a common source of lubricant. And inconnection with each of said individual chambers, I pro vide independentrelatively low pressure means adapted to feed lubricant constantly tothe related bearing, the latter means being adapted to be placed intheir active state by the pressure in said conduit and functioning whensuch pressure ceases.- Thus if the bearing is already amply lubricated,it may offer some resistance to receiving further lubricant from thelubricant storage chamber.

Furthermore, in order to avoid unnecessary work in the filling of theindividual storage chambers from the main storage chamber, thecapacities of the former may be limited to the requirements of theparticular bearing;

and such limitation may be made variably by providing adjustable devicesto this end. And since the force-pump must continue working, being timedwith the machine whose bearings are being lubricated, it is so arrangedas to accommodate any interference with its periodic action. In short,the piston of the force-pump is given a loose fit, so that, when all theindividual storage chambers have been filled and further transfer oflubricant thereto is resisted. the loose fit of the piston of theforce-pump will permit the lubricant to pass by and thus the piston willcease to function for the time. L

These and other incidental objects and the details of construction of myinvention will hereinafter be more fully described with reference to theaccompanying drawings- In which:

Fig. 1 shows a diagrammatic plan view of the chassis of a motor vehicleand my automatic lubrication means;

Fig. 2 shows a sectional rear the lubricant reservoir;

Fig. 3 shows a sectional side elevation of the lubricant reservoir andthe operating mechanism therein, and illustrates in diagramelevation ofmatic fragmentary portions the driving mechanism provided for mylubrication means and a lubricator connected thereto located on asteering knuckle bearing;

Fig. 4 shows a section taken on the line 44: of Fig. 3, looking in thedirection of the arrows, and illustrates further details of theoperating mechanism;

Fig. 5 shows a central longitudinal section of a lubricator andillustrates the details of construction thereof;

Fig. 6 shows another form of lubricator;

Fig. 7 shows a section taken on the line 77 of Fig. 6, looking in thedirection of the arrows; and illustrates further details of constructionof this lubricator;

Fig. 8 shows diagrammatically my lubrication means illustrated by Figs.6 and 7 as adapted for electrical control and illustrates in afragmental portion, my lubrication means connected to one of thebearings of a spring.

My invention comprises a lubricant reservoir (1 located at anyconvenient point on the motor vehicle, as in Fig. 1, and tubularconduits 6 leading therefrom to individual lubricators located at eachbearing on the motor vehicle.

The oil reservoir a, Figs. 2, 3 and 4, is provided in its bottom with acylindrical depression cl from which the oil conduit 6 leads.

\Vithin the cylindrical depression d is provided a piston 7 which isslightly smaller in diameter than the cylindrical depression, and whichlubricant may normally seep past into the space below when in anupraised position as in Fig. 3.

The piston f is provided with a rod f, to the upper end of which isfixed an oblong block 9 provided with a central longitudinal slot 9 Tothe upper end of the block 9 is fixed a stemh, the upper end of which isslidably seated in a hollow cylindrical member 71, fixed to the top ofthe reservoir and extending downwardly therefrom, and provided adjacentthe top of the reservoir with a shoulder 2". v

A compression coil spring j is arranged over the member 2' and bearsagainst the shoulderz" and a shoulder 92 on the block g.

A transverse shaft is is arranged in the reservoir so as to extendthrough the slot g in the block 9 and through each side of thereservoir, the said shaft being j ournaled therein and the end k of theshaft is adapted to be provided with a crank 702 for manual operation asshown by the dotted lines in Fig. 3.

A spiral cam m is fixed to the shaft adjacent the block 9, and normallybears against a pin n in the block g. On the other end of the shaft isare fixed a small gear 0 and a larger gear p, adapted to mesh with alarge gear g and a smaller gear 1', respectively, and the gears g and rare connected by a sleeve 8, provided with a circumferential groove 8'between the two gears.

The sleeves s and the gears q and 1' are fastened on a shaft 25 andadapted for longitudinal movement thereon by means of splines, not shownin the drawings. The shaft t is mounted for rotation in journals 2, onefixed to the exterior of the adjacent side of the reservoir and theother to the interior of the opposite wall 3 of a housing which enclosesthis mechanism.

' A gear shifting lever is pivoted as at 5a, the lower end of which isforked and is adapted to bear in the groove 8' in the sleeve 8; and arod 7 is pivotally fastened to its upper end which leads to theinstrument board of the motor vehicle and is provided with a springcontrolledcatch 8.

B y this means either the gears q and 0 or thegears 11 and p may bebrought into ongagement by shifting the lever 5, from the instrumentboard by the rod 7, thus the speed of the mechanism may be increased ordecreased, or thrown entirely out of gear, as desired.

The shaft is also provided with a large gear- 10 which meshes with asmaller/gear 11, mounted on a stub shaft 12 which is journaled on thehousing wall 3 as at 13, and on the shaft 12-"is also fixed a largergear 14 which in turn meshes with a small gear 15 mounted on a stubshaft 16 which is journaled as at 17 and on which is also mounted alarger gear 18 which meshes with a worm gear 20, which is driven bymeans of a flexible shaft 22 from any convenient place on the motorvehicle, as the transmission, as at 21.

In the operation of this unit of my invention, the reservoir a is filledwith lubricant and the shaft t is rotated slowly from the transmissionor other suitable means by the reducing-gears 10, 11, 14 and 15 and thecam m bears against the pin n and raises the rod 'a nd[thetpiston fslowly upward, the lubricant meantime seeping past the piston into thespace below, then as the pin 01. reaches the top of the spiral m of thecam m, the piston will be forced quickly down- Ward by the action of thespring 7', and the oil which has collected beneath the pistonwill beforced through the tubular conduit 6 with considerable pressure to thelubricators hereinafter described.

The tubular conduit 6 leads with the necessary branches to each bearing,and adjacent each bearing, as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and.

4 are provided lubricators.

' arrangements of the port 43 and the outlet Referring now to Figs. 5 to7 inclusive, I p

show various forms of my lubricators.

The lubricator shown in Fig. 5 is provided with an inlet 31 and anoutlet 32. A piston 33' is arranged in a chamber 34 into which the inletleads and is adapted to move back and forth therein. The end of thechamber 34 is reduced in size and leads into a larger storage chamber 35in which is provided a spring seated plunger 36 and leading from thechamber 35 through a port 40 and parallel to the chamber 34 is anotherchamber 37, in which is located a ball 38 seated on a spring 39, andarranged to normally close a port 41 leading to a chamber 42 in which isprovided a port 43 leading to the chamber 34 the relative 32 are suchthat the piston 33 will not open the port 43 until the outlet 32 isclosed, thus to prevent the lubricant from flowing from the storagechamber 35 into the outlet, when actuated by the pressure from the port43.

In the operation of this lubricator, a charge of lubricant is forcedthrough the tubular conduit 6 by the rapid stroke of the piston 7 intothe inlet 31 and the chamber 34 and the piston 33 is forced by thesudden impact of the lubricant, quickly to the opposite end of thechamber 34, closing the outlet 32 and the reduced end of the chamber 34and openthat the lubricant passes through to the chamber 42 and throughthe port41 forcing the ball 38 back on the spring 39 which allows thelubricant to pass into the storage chamber 35 and the pressure of thelubricant on the plunger 36 forces the plunger back on its spring.

When the pressure in the conduit 6 is released, the ball 38 forced bythe spring 39 closes the port 41, thus preventing a back-flow oflubricant to the source, and the lubricant due to the pressure of thespring seated plunger 36, returns the piston 33 to its first position inthe chamber 34, which closes the port 41 and the lubricant then passesthrough the outlet 32 to the hearing, as for instance, the bearing 5 ofa steering knuckle 52 through a conduit 64 as shown in Fig. 3.

Referring now to Figs. 6 and 7, I show another of my lubricators ofsomewhat different form, provided with an inlet and outlet 51, the inletleading into a cylindrical chamber 52 in which is located a piston 53,as in the previously described lubricator. The chamber 52 leads througha port 62 into a large cylindrical chamber 54 arranged vertically to theformer and in which is located a spring seated plunger 55. A stop 56 isarranged above the plunger to provide adjustment for this lubricator,.bylimiting the amount which may be contained in the said chamber.

Leading from the chamber 54 through a ort 61 is provided a chamberparallel to thechamber 52. and provided with a port 57 leading thereto,a spring seated ball 58 is provided which is normally seated in the port57, but adapted to be received in a recess 59. In the operation of thislubricator, a charge of lubricant, as previously described, entersthrough the inlet 50 and forces the piston valve 53 to the end of thechamber 52, Fig. 6, which closes the outlet 51, and the lubricant passesthrough the port 57 and unseats the ball check-valve 58, and then passesthrough the outlet 61 of the chamber 60 into the chamber 54 and theplunger 55 is forced upward against the tension of its spring as far asthe adjustable stop 56 will allow. The piston valve 53 is held againstand closes the port 62 until the pressurein the conduit 6 is released,then the spring seated ball valve 58 closes the port 57 and prevents theback-flow of lubricant to the source and the plunger 55, actuated byits" spring, forces the lubricant against the piston valve 53, whichresumes its first position, Fig. 7, and closes the port 57 and the inlet50, and the lubricant is forced out through the outlet 51 to thebearing, as shown in Fig. 3.

In Fig. 8, I provide the operating mechanism of an oil reservoir adaptedto be driven by electrical means.

Referring to Fig. 8, the oil reservoir a is similar in its essentialfeatures to the reservoir a-shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4.

Centrally located in the reservoir a is a transverse shaft 82 providedwith a circular eccentric cam 83 and on the end of the shaft whichextends through the walls of the reser- F 1 electricmotor 86, and aspiral cam 87 upon i which one end of a vertically arranged rod 88rests. 1 The rod 88 is slidably supported as: 3888625 andthe upper-fendofthe saidtrod I f r I bears upwardly against a spring-controlled "lever89sup ortedes at 90;

1 Above the lever 89 is located another lever 91 pivoted as at QIaadapted to normally rest f on'the upturned end of an adjacent horizontal spring controlled lever: 92 the other end. of which is arranged to 5engage: an, arm 93" which is 'fixe'd toa shaft 93a, on which is alsofixed a gear: 94' which meshes with a small gear 95=fixed on a shaft;95a on which: is; also I xed a largegear 95b which meshes with a isinali "gear 96 fixed von a shaft 196a on which I is alsofixed a largegear 96b, which meshes with a worm gear 97, mounted on: a: shaft 97a,upon which a spiral gear 976 iszalsoj mounted; -that meshes with: a wormgear 970 driven- 1 from? the engine in any convenient manner. a t

Above the lever91 isprovidedanelectrical contact point QStowhich one endof the cir-t cuit 99 of; the electric motor 86 is connected and theother endof the circuit; is connected to the lever9 1 asati91a A stop98aiis pro-w vided. above the end of the: lever 91 and by i thisconstruction, the circuit 99 is closed when I the'lever 91 is inonep'osition andopen when:

in'theother," ififflii "17 w; ,:;i :H; 1

I Amanually operated switch 100 is provided in the: circuit :99 :for theindependent con to the upper end of the rod 106, and in which parallelrollers 109a are mounted and against which the eccentric cam 83 bears asit rotates and forces the piston downward into the dc pression d, thepiston rising again by the action of the spring 108.

In the operation of the mechanism last described, thercducing gears 94,95b, 96b and the arm 93 will be rotated slowly bythe worm 970 and raisethe lever 92 once each revolution of the shaft 93a, which will raise thelever 92 and close the electric circuit 99, which will actuate the motor86 and the eccentric cam 83 will be rotated once by means of the wormgear 85 on the shaft 866 of the motor and the gear 84, and the rod 88will move downward by the action of the spiral cam 87, and allow the sring controlled lever 89 to move upward and Break the contact at 98;thus the piston will be forced downward, driving a charge of oil throughthe outlet 80 into the conduit one position to close said inlet port andE in relative to said ports of said valve chamber.

let and outlet passageways, the former connected with said conduit, avalve-chamber included in said inlet passageway and provided with inletand outlet ports, the inlet port being located nearest the entrance ofsaid passageway, and having a separate inlet duct extending therefrominto said storage cham her, said outlet port being connected with saidoutlet passageway, a piston-valve reciprocal in said valve-chamber,adapted in one position to close said inlet port and in its otherposition to close said outlet port and open said inlet-port, asupplemental valve-chamber included in said separate inlet-duct, and acheck valve in such supplemental valve chamber, means for creating ayielding pressure in said storage chamber, whereby the pressure ofthelubricant from said source, and the pressure in said storage-chamberwill tend, respectively, to position said pistonvalve relative to saidports of said valvechamber. 3. In lubricating means for machinebearings, a source of lubricant, means for lacin said source underpressure, and an individua lubricator at each bearing connected by aconduit with said source, said lubricator comprising a storage chamberprovided with inlet and outlet passa eways, the former connected withsaid con uit, a valve-chamber ini e, and the piston'will then'riseto'itsformer i I 1 position by the, action of the spring 108. v 7

f 1;. Inlubricating means for machine bear- 3 s 1 -1ngs',a source oflubricant,,means for placing saidsourceunderzpressure, and an;individual Y lubricator at each bearing; connected by a Q conduitwithsaid source, said lubricatori come g prising'astorage chamberprovidedwith in- Z let and Outlet passageways, th former conaerate with;said; conduit, t a valve-chamber I e-includedin said inlet passagewayand pro i I v I v vided with inlet and outlet ports, the inletport:being locatednearestthe entrance of;

saidepassageway, iand'having a separate inlet duct extendin therefromintosaidstorage chamber, sa'i outlet port ibeingwconnected:with:said'outletpassageway, apistcn-valve, reciprocal; in saidvalve-chamber, adapted in :its other positionto close saidoutlctp rbn -iand open, said inlet porhasupplemental e, valve-chamber included in asaid separate; in- I i i i 1 let-duct, anda check valve insuch :supple--e mental valve-chamber, whereby the pressure I of the lubricant, fromsaid: source, and the i pressure in said storage-chamber will tend,

; respectively, to position; said pflStOIlrVfilVQ :2; Inlnlorieatingmeans for machine bear-v e I ings, a source; of lubricant,.means forplacing, 1 i 1 c said source under pressure, and an individual 1 vlubricator at each bearing; connected: by e a I conduitwith; saidsource, said lubricator come 1 'prising'a storage chamber provided withincluded in said inlet passageway and provided with,inlet and outletorts, the inlet port being located nearest t e entrance of saidpassageway, and having a separate inlet duct extending therefrom intosaid storage chamber, said outlet port being connected with said outletpassageway, a piston-valve reciprocalin said valve-chamber, adapted inone position to close said inlet port and in its other osition to closesaid outlet port and open said inlet port, a supplemental valvechamberincluded in said separate inlet-duct, and a check valve in suchsupplemental valvechamber, a spring controlled plunger in said storagechamber, whereby the pressure of the lubricant, from said source, andthe pressure in said storage chamber will tend, respectively, toposition said piston-valve relative to said ports of said valve-chamber.4. In lubricating means for machine bearings, a source of lubricant,means for placing said source under pressure, and an individuallubricator at each bearing connected by a conduit with said source, saidlubricator comprising a storage chamber provided with in-.

let and outlet passageways, the former connected wth said conduit, avalve-chamber included in said inlet passageway'and provided with inletand outlet ports, the inlet port 8 being located nearest the entrance ofsaid passageway, and having a separate inlet duct extending therefrominto said storage chamber, said outlet port being connected with saidoutlet passageway, a piston-valve reciprocal in said valve-chamber,adapted in one position to close said inlet port and in its otherposition to close said outlet port and open said inlet port, asupplemental valve-chamber included in said separate inlet-duct, and a40 check valve in such supplemental valve-chamher, a spring controlledplunger in said storage chamber means for limiting the movement of saidplunger, whereby the pressure of the lubricant from said source, and thepressure in said storage chamber will tend, respectively, to positionsaid piston-valve relative to said ports of said valve-chamber.

HART W. ATWOOD.

